U.S. patent application number 15/218525 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-26 for side shaker link for agricultural harvester sieve assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to CNH Industrial America LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is CNH Industrial America LLC. Invention is credited to Jishan Jin, Justin L. Montenguise, Craig E. Murray, Tyler L. Nelson, Clay A. Reinecke, Kevin S. Schwinn, Kai Zhao.
Application Number | 20170020074 15/218525 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56550120 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170020074 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Reinecke; Clay A. ; et
al. |
January 26, 2017 |
SIDE SHAKER LINK FOR AGRICULTURAL HARVESTER SIEVE ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An agricultural harvester includes a grain processing section
having a sieve assembly. The sieve assembly is connected to
mechanism for producing a side to side oscillation by a single cast
structural link having an input through slotted openings to the
drive mechanism to accommodate misalignment. The link has vertical
and horizontal flanges connected to a main body for interconnection
between the right and left frames and structural supports
interconnecting the right and left frames. The main body of the
link extends through a slot in a rubber wall to accommodate the
movement and seal against loss of grain.
Inventors: |
Reinecke; Clay A.; (Blue
Grass, IA) ; Nelson; Tyler L.; (Rochester, MN)
; Murray; Craig E.; (Davenport, IA) ; Schwinn;
Kevin S.; (Orion, IL) ; Montenguise; Justin L.;
(Bettendorf, IA) ; Jin; Jishan; (Naperville,
IL) ; Zhao; Kai; (Willowbrook, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CNH Industrial America LLC |
New Holland |
PA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CNH Industrial America LLC
New Holland
PA
|
Family ID: |
56550120 |
Appl. No.: |
15/218525 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62196221 |
Jul 23, 2015 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01F 12/60 20130101;
A01F 12/446 20130101; A01F 12/46 20130101; A01F 12/448 20130101;
A01F 7/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01F 12/44 20060101
A01F012/44 |
Claims
1. A sieve assembly for an agricultural harvester, said sieve
assembly comprising: right and left side frames interconnected by
at least a cross frame at one end thereof; a mechanism for driving
said right and left frames in fore and aft movement and permitting
side to side movement; a mechanism for driving said right and left
frames in side to side movement; and a link structurally connected
to one of said right and left frames, said link being cast and
having a single input for driving side to side movement, a
structural mounting for said one of right and left frames, and a
plurality of mounting points for support frames extending between
said one of said first and second frames and the other of said
frame members.
2. The sieve assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said link
comprises a main body having an input flange at one end thereof and
an integral fillet connecting the main body to the input
flange.
3. The sieve assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said link
comprises a main body having a horizontal flange extending
therefrom and a vertical flange interconnected with said horizontal
flange at a right angle for connection with one of said right and
left frames.
4. The sieve assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said vertical
flange has holes therein for fastening to one of said frames and
said horizontal frame has a plurality of holes for fastening to
said one of said right and left frames and to said support
frames.
5. The sieve assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said support
frames are tubular.
6. The sieve assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein a center of
said tubes extends perpendicularly across and between said right
and left frames and adjacent tubular supports extend at an angle
from said link.
7. The sieve assembly as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a
fillet formed between said main body and said vertical flange.
8. The sieve assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said input
flange has elongated slots formed therein for permitting adjustment
of said link during installation to prevent misalignment
stresses.
9. An agricultural harvester comprising: a chassis; a plurality of
wheels for ground movement; grain processing equipment mounted in
said chassis; a sieve assembly having right and left side frames
interconnected by a cross member at the front thereof; a mechanism
for driving said right and left frames in fore and aft oscillation
and permitting side to side movement; a mechanism for driving side
to side movement; and a link structurally connected to one of said
right and left side frames, said link being cast and having a
single input for driving side to side, a structural mounting to
said one of right and left frame members and a plurality of
mounting points for support frames extending between said one of
said right and left side frames and the other of said frames.
10. The agricultural harvester as claimed in claim 9, wherein said
link comprises a main body having an input flange connected thereto
and a fillet interconnecting the main body and said input
flange.
11. The agricultural harvester as claimed in claim 9, wherein said
link comprises a main body having a vertical flange for connecting
to said frame member and an integral horizontal flange extending
therefrom.
12. The agricultural harvester as claimed in claim 11, further
comprising holes in the vertical flange for connecting to said one
of said right and left frames and holes in the horizontal flange
for connecting to one of said right and left frames and to said
support frames.
13. The agricultural harvester as claimed in claim 12, wherein said
support frames are tubular in form.
14. The agricultural harvester as claimed in claim 13, wherein the
center of said tubular support frames extends perpendicularly
between said right and left frames and tubular support frames on
either side of said center tube extend at an angle thereof.
15. The agricultural harvester as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
input flange has elongated slots for accommodating misalignment
upon installation of said link.
16. The agricultural harvester as claimed in claim 9, further
comprising a rubber wall mounted to said chassis and having a slot
therein through which said link extends to sealingly permit side to
side movement and fore and aft oscillation of said right and left
side frames.
17. The agricultural harvester as claimed in claim 16, wherein said
rubber wall is formed from one of a single sheet with a slot in it
and two sheets abutting to form a slot.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/196,221, entitled "SIDE
SHAKER LINK FOR AGRICULTURAL HARVESTER SIEVE ASSEMBLY", filed Jul.
23, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to agricultural harvesters
such as combines, and, more particularly, to sieve assemblies
incorporated in the harvester crop processing section.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] An agricultural harvester known as a "combine" is
historically termed such because it combines multiple harvesting
functions with a single harvesting unit, such as picking,
threshing, separating and cleaning. A combine includes a header
which removes the crop from a field, and a feeder housing which
transports the crop matter into a threshing rotor. The threshing
rotor rotates within a perforated housing, which may be in the form
of adjustable concaves, and performs a threshing operation on the
crop to remove the grain. Once the grain is threshed it falls
through perforations in the concaves and is transported to a grain
pan. From the grain pan the grain is cleaned using a cleaning
system, and is then transported to a grain tank onboard the
combine. The cleaning system includes a cleaning fan which blows
air through oscillating sieves to discharge chaff and other debris
toward the rear of the combine. Non-grain crop material such as
straw from the threshing section proceeds through a straw chopper
and out the rear of the combine. When the grain tank becomes full,
the combine is positioned adjacent a vehicle into which the grain
is to be unloaded, such as a semi-trailer, gravity box, straight
truck, or the like; and an unloading system on the combine is
actuated to transfer the grain into the vehicle.
[0006] More particularly, a rotary threshing or separating system
includes one or more rotors which can extend axially (front to
rear) or transversely within the body of the combine, and which are
partially or fully surrounded by a perforated concave. The crop
material is threshed and separated by the rotation of the rotor
within the concave. Coarser non-grain crop material such as stalks
and leaves are transported to the rear of the combine and
discharged back to the field. The separated grain, together with
some finer non-grain crop material such as chaff, dust, straw, and
other crop residue are discharged through the concaves and fall
onto the grain pan where they are transported to the cleaning
system. Alternatively, the grain and finer non-grain crop material
may also fall directly onto the cleaning system itself.
[0007] The cleaning system further separates the grain from
non-grain crop material, and typically includes a fan directing an
air flow stream upwardly and rearwardly through vertically arranged
sieves which oscillate in a fore and aft manner. The air flow
stream lifts and carries the lighter non-grain crop material
towards the rear end of the combine for discharge to the field.
Clean grain, being heavier, and larger pieces of non-grain crop
material, which are not carried away by the air flow stream, fall
onto a surface of an upper sieve (also known as a chaffer sieve or
sieve assembly assembly) where some or all of the clean grain
passes through to a lower sieve (also known as a cleaning sieve).
Grain and non-grain crop material remaining on the upper and lower
sieves are physically separated by the reciprocating action of the
sieves as the material moves rearwardly. Any grain and/or non-grain
crop material remaining on the top surface of the upper sieve or
sieve assembly are discharged at the rear of the combine. Grain
falling through the lower sieve lands on a bottom pan of the
cleaning system, where it is conveyed forwardly toward a clean
grain auger.
[0008] The clean grain auger is positioned below the lower sieve,
and receives clean grain from each sieve and from the bottom pan of
the cleaning system. The clean grain auger then augers the clean
grain laterally sideways to a clean grain elevator, which in turn
conveys the clean grain to a grain tank onboard the combine.
[0009] The sieve assembly usually incorporates right and left side
frame members interconnected to support a sieve between the two and
is supported for driven fore and aft oscillation. This moves the
coarser non-grain material towards the aft end of the sieve
assembly and allows agricultural crop material to fall through for
collection. When the combine or agricultural harvester is operating
on a side slope it is necessary to supplement the fore and aft
oscillation of the sieve assembly with a side to side movement. In
order to simplify the actuation mechanism the side to side movement
is transmitted to the right and left frames through a single input
point. This causes significant imposes high cyclical loads on the
point. In the past such a link has been formed from sheet metal.
The use of such metal can have a reduction of long term integrity
due to high cycle fatigue.
[0010] Accordingly what is needed in the art is a single structural
interconnection for the right and left rails of a sieve
assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention seeks to provide a strong structural
interconnection to a sieve assembly to permit sideways movement of
the sieve assembly.
[0012] In one form, the invention is a sieve assembly for an
agricultural harvester, said sieve assembly including right and
left frame members interconnected by a cross member. A mechanism is
connected to the right and left cross members for driving fore and
aft oscillation and permitting side to side movement. A mechanism
is provided for driving side to side movement of the right and left
frame members. A link is structurally connected to one of the right
and left frame members, the link being cast and having a single
input for driving side to side movement, a structural mounting for
the one of right and left frame members, and a plurality of
mounting points for support frames extending between the one of
first and second frames and the other of the frame members.
[0013] In another form, the invention is an agricultural harvester
including a main frame, a plurality of wheels for ground movement
and grain processing equipment mounted in the frame. A sieve
assembly is positioned to receive material from the grain
processing equipment and includes right and left frame members
interconnected by a cross member. A mechanism is provided for
driving the right and left frames into fore and aft oscillation and
permitting side to side movement. A mechanism is provided for
driving side to side movement of the right and left frame members.
A link is structurally connected to one of the right and left frame
members, the link being cast and having a single input for driving
side to side movement, a structural mounting to the one of the
right and left frame members and a plurality of mounting points for
structural frames extending between the one of the first and second
frames and the other of the frame members.
[0014] An advantage of the present invention is a single link
connecting sieve assembly side frames with structural
integrity.
[0015] Another advantage of the present invention is that the link
may be cast to provide more direct stress flow paths between the
input and the interconnection with the frame members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of
this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more
apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference
to the following description of an embodiment of the invention
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of an agricultural
harvester in the form of a combine which may include a sieve
assembly of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sieve assembly
incorporated in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a side view of the sieve assembly of FIG. 2;
[0020] FIG. 4 is an individual view of a support linkage for the
sieve assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a link incorporated in the sieve
assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a side view of the link illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0023] FIG. 7 is an end view of the link illustrated in FIG. 5;
and,
[0024] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the link illustrated in FIG.
5, as installed.
[0025] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out
herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, and
such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope
of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The terms "grain", "straw" and "tailings" are used
principally throughout this specification for convenience but it is
to be understood that these terms are not intended to be limiting.
Thus "grain" refers to that part of the crop material which is
threshed and separated from the discardable part of the crop
material, which is referred to as non-grain crop material, MOG or
straw. Incompletely threshed crop material is referred to as
"tailings". Also the terms "forward", "rearward", "left" and
"right", when used in connection with the agricultural harvester
and/or components thereof are usually determined with reference to
the direction of forward operative travel of the harvester, but
again, they should not be construed as limiting. The terms
"longitudinal" and "transverse" are determined with reference to
the fore-and-aft direction of the agricultural harvester and are
equally not to be construed as limiting.
[0027] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG.
1, there is shown an agricultural harvester in the form of a
combine 10, which generally includes a chassis 12, ground engaging
wheels 14 and 16, header 18, feeder housing 20, operator cab 22,
threshing and separating system 24, cleaning system 26, grain tank
28, and unloading auger 30.
[0028] Front wheels 14 are larger flotation type wheels, and rear
wheels 16 are smaller steerable wheels. Motive force is selectively
applied to front wheels 14 through a power plant in the form of a
diesel engine 32 and a transmission (not shown). Although combine
10 is shown as including wheels, is also to be understood that
combine 10 may include tracks, such as full tracks or half
tracks.
[0029] Header 18 is mounted to the front of combine 10 and includes
a cutter bar 34 for severing crops from a field during forward
motion of combine 10. A rotatable reel 36 feeds the crop into
header 18, and a double auger 38 feeds the severed crop laterally
inwardly from each side toward feeder housing 20. Feeder housing 20
conveys the cut crop to threshing and separating system 24, and is
selectively vertically movable using appropriate actuators, such as
hydraulic cylinders (not shown).
[0030] Threshing and separating system 24 is of the axial-flow
type, and generally includes a rotor 40 at least partially enclosed
by and rotatable within a corresponding perforated concave 42. The
cut crops are threshed and separated by the rotation of rotor 40
within concave 42, and larger elements, such as stalks, leaves and
the like are discharged from the rear of combine 10. Smaller
elements of crop material including grain and non-grain crop
material, including particles lighter than grain, such as chaff,
dust and straw, are discharged through perforations of concave 42.
Threshing and separating system 24 can also be a different type of
system, such as a system with a transverse rotor rather than an
axial rotor, etc.
[0031] Grain which has been separated by the threshing and
separating assembly 24 falls onto a grain pan or auger bed 44 and
is conveyed toward cleaning system 26. Cleaning system 26 may
include an optional pre-cleaning sieve 46, an upper sieve 48 (also
known as a chaffer sieve or sieve assembly), a lower sieve 50 (also
known as a cleaning sieve), and a cleaning fan 52. Grain on sieves
46, 48 and 50 is subjected to a cleaning action by fan 52 which
provides an air flow through the sieves to remove chaff and other
impurities such as dust from the grain by making this material
airborne for discharge from straw hood 54 of combine 10. Grain pan
44, if present, and pre-cleaning sieve 46 oscillate in a
fore-to-aft manner to transport the grain and finer non-grain crop
material to the upper surface of upper sieve 48. Upper sieve 48 and
lower sieve 50 are vertically arranged relative to each other, and
likewise oscillate in a fore-to-aft manner to spread the grain
across sieves 48, 50, while permitting the passage of cleaned grain
by gravity through the openings of sieves 48, 50.
[0032] Clean grain falls to a clean grain auger 56 positioned
crosswise below and toward the front of lower sieve 50. Clean grain
auger 56 receives clean grain from each sieve 48, 50 and from
bottom pan 58 of cleaning system 26. Clean grain auger 56 conveys
the clean grain laterally to a generally vertically arranged grain
elevator 60 for transport to grain tank 28. Tailings from cleaning
system 26 fall to a tailings auger trough 62. The tailings are
transported via tailings auger 64 and return auger or return
elevator 66 to the upstream end of cleaning system 26 for repeated
cleaning action. A pair of grain tank augers 68 at the bottom of
grain tank 28 convey the clean grain laterally within grain tank 28
to unloading auger 30 for discharge from combine 10.
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 2, the upper and lower sieves or sieve
assemblies 48 and 50 are shown. The upper sieve assembly 48
includes a left rail or frame 70 and a right rail or frame 72
interconnected by a cross frame 74. The right and left frames 70
and 72 are supported at the cross frame 74 by a front pivot support
76. A flexible link 78 connects to a rear support to maintain the
rear of the rails in place. Support frames 82 each provide a base
affixed to the chassis 12 to provide ultimate support for the pans.
The front of the right and left frames are mounted for fore and aft
movement through a fore and aft oscillation mechanism generally
indicated at 84. An input drive shaft 86, extending transverse in
chassis 12, receives a suitable power input for rotation. Both ends
of drive shaft 86 drive oscillating arms 88 through an eccentric
mounting 90. Each arm 88 connects to a first frame 92 through a
pivotal connection 96. A pivotal mounting 98 supported by frame 82
mounts the first triangular frame 92 and the second triangular
frame 94 adjacent to it radially inward from the first triangular
frame 94. A frame interconnection 100 connects the first and second
frames 92 and 94. The second frame 94 has a plurality of flexible
rubber bushings 102 as shown particularly in FIG. 4. A plurality of
rubber bushings 104, particularly shown in FIG. 3, enables an
interconnection between the first and second triangular frames 92
and 94.
[0034] A pivotal connection 106 on first frame 92 connects with a
link 108 that drives the lower sieve 50 for reciprocating movement.
Details of this arrangement are not included to enable a better
focus on the invention.
[0035] The right and left frames 70 and 72 are selectively
reciprocated from side to side by a side shaker mechanism generally
indicated at 110. The mechanism 110 includes a reciprocating
electric actuator 112 appropriately mounted to frame 82 and having
an output shaft 114 connecting to an upper link 116 by a pivotal
input connection 118. The upper and lower links 116 are pivotally
connected to the frame 82 at 120. A bushing 122, integral with a
connecting rod 124, connects the links 116 to a structural
connection with the right and left frames 70 and 72 to be described
below.
[0036] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a structural link 128 has an
input end 130 for connection to a universal joint 132 that is in
turn connected to links 116. Input end 130 has an input flange 134
integral with a main body 136. An integral fillet 138 connects the
main body 136 to the input flange 134. A frame vertical mounting
flange 140 is positioned at one end of the main body 136 and is
positioned at right angles to a frame horizontal mounting flange
142. A plurality of mounting holes 144 in the frame vertical
mounting flange 140 is provided and a plurality of mounting holes
146 are formed in the frame horizontal mounting flange 142. A
fillet 148 interconnects the frame vertical mounting flange 140
with the main by 136. As illustrated in both FIGS. 5, 6 and 2, a
support tube 150 extends from a central opening 146 in the frame
horizontal mounting flange 142 to the opposite frame (frame 72) to
provide a structural interconnection. Support tubes 152 extend from
openings 146 adjacent the central opening at an angle to the
structural link 128 and fan out to spaced points on the right frame
72 as particularly shown in FIG. 2.
[0037] As shown particularly in FIG. 7, the flange 138, 134 has
elongated holes 156 to accommodate variations in positioning of the
right and left frames 70 and 72 with respect to the mechanism for
producing the side to side linkage. The elongated slots 156 permit
a range of angles so that, as installed, there are no side forces
or other inputs on a universal joint 132.
[0038] As shown particularly in FIG. 8, the main body 136 of the
structural link 128 extends through a flexible wall 158 mounted to
frame elements 82 to form a barrier between the mechanism producing
the side to side movement and the left frame 70. The main body 136
extends through a slot 160 in the rubber wall 158. The rubber wall
158 may be in two pieces or a single piece with a slot formed in
it. In either case, the connection allows for a side to side
movement and also forward and aft movement while sealing the area
for escape of grain and material from the sieve assemblies.
[0039] While this invention has been described with respect to at
least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified
within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is
therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of
the invention using its general principles. Further, this
application is intended to cover such departures from the present
disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to
which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of
the appended claims.
* * * * *